When Rob Thomas found success funding his Veronica Mars movie via Kickstarter, it was inevitable that other filmmakers would follow. Now Garden State writer/director/actor Zach Braff has decided to take a crack at the idea. Take a look at his pitch video.

Wish I Was Here follows Aidan Bloom (Braff), a struggling actor, father and husband, who at 35 is still trying to find his identity; a purpose for his life. He and his wife are barely getting by financially and Aidan passes his time by fantasising about being the great futuristic Space-Knight he'd always dreamed he'd be as a little kid.

When his ailing father can no longer afford to pay for private school for his two kids and the only available public school is on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them.

The result is some funny chaos, until Aidan decides to scrap the traditional academic curriculum and come up with his own. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find.

Braff has Jim Parsons lined up to co-star (and best pal Donald Faison likely to cameo), and he’s already asked Garden State cinematographer Larry Sher to work on the new movie, with a plan to shoot in August.

Like the Mars campaign before it, Braff’s attempt has sparked discussion about bigger name filmmakers sapping resources from projects that could genuinely use them, but if you’re a Braff fan who wants to see his next project made, then feel free to head over and donate…

I think the Kickstarter idea is kind of interesting in a way. I love Garden State, and I honestly think if I put in money I'd feel pretty chuffed I was a part of getting a sequel to a film I love. Hell I'll put in money just to secure another cameo from Jim Parsons More

L: MonsterCat
Where was all this negativity when the Veronica Mars Kickstarter thing happened? And I'm pretty sure that Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell are hardly strapped for cash themselves.
I wish him luck with it. For all it's flaws and slightly annoying moments of forced kookiness, I was quite charmed by Garden State.
ell I imagine Braff is significantly richer than the other two as the other two's show failed.
The key difference here is that people who pledged $35 for the More

L: vaxes
I'm sorry BelfastBoy & Osric but neither of you know the state of his personal finances, as Moronifighter said he is putting up alot of his own money.
It's not like its Brad Pitt or Tom Cruse e.t.c. asking for money. if you have a look he hasn't really done a lot since scrubs, why should he take a risk at bankruptcy when he can do something like this.
Look at the Veronica Mars one, they already have a distribution deal with Warners.
imagine Zach has decent enough More

I think this is a great idea. He's not forcing anyone's hand, he's found an inventive and accessible way of sharing the creative process with people and, as mentioned on here already, you do see a return on your investment (should you wish to invest). I'm sure Mr Braff knows a lot of people who have the collateral and are happy to support, and they in turn know others, so hopefully it'll have a catch-fire effect. I loved the fresh and original feel of Garden State and so many 2nd time directors' More

L: MonsterCat
Where was all this negativity when the Veronica Mars Kickstarter thing happened? And I'm pretty sure that Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell are hardly strapped for cash themselves.
I wish him luck with it. For all it's flaws and slightly annoying moments of forced kookiness, I was quite charmed by Garden State.
sp;
Yeah this, although I really liked Garden State. More

Where was all this negativity when the Veronica Mars Kickstarter thing happened? And I'm pretty sure that Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell are hardly strapped for cash themselves.
I wish him luck with it. For all it's flaws and slightly annoying moments of forced kookiness, I was quite charmed by Garden State. More

I'm sorry BelfastBoy & Osric but neither of you know the state of his personal finances, as Moronifighter said he is putting up alot of his own money.
It's not like its Brad Pitt or Tom Cruse e.t.c. asking for money. if you have a look he hasn't really done a lot since scrubs, why should he take a risk at bankruptcy when he can do something like this.
Look at the Veronica Mars one, they already have a distribution deal with Warners. More

He doesn't need to market and distribute it though. That's what things like the AFM, EFM, TIFF and Cannes are for - to sell your movie once it's made. He'd easily get distribution for the finished film. All he needs to do is get it made in the first place, and that script doesn't sound like it's expensive, whether or not some of it happens at comiccon. There are filmmakers out there who literally have no money. It's offensive and disingenuous that someone with a personal fortune like Braff is c More

Matter of fact Braff IS using a large chunk of his own money tp fund it, $2 million is nowhere near enough to produce, advertise and distribute a film internationally, so I have nothing against him asking for some help of the fans and giving something back in return, (Backers actually get some really cool stuff related to the film or from Braff himself) More

Totally agree. How ridiculously much was he making per episode in the later seasons of scrubs? How ridiculously much is he still making from scrubs being in syndication all around the world. I bet he's personally got a bigger fortune now than whoever the dude was the funded garden state. Kickstarter is a new paradigm all right. It's a new paradigm for people who want to spend other people's money so they don't have to risk their own. More

Zach Braff wants my money? Has he got none of his own? Did he not get paid for all those years on a highly successful TV show? If he wants final cut privileges and no compromises, he should maybe get the ball rolling and put up some of his own money. More